The Watlington Hoard
Metal-detectorist James Mather will begin by talking about metal detecting and some of his more interesting local finds. The main focus of his talk will however be his discovery in 2015 of the Watlington Viking Hoard. Comprising about 200 coins (some of them fragmentary), 7 items of jewellery and 15 ingots (bars of silver), the find is not particularly large. However, it is hugely significant and has been described authoritatively as one that has changed history. This hoard is now on permanent display in The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
In addition, James will bring along a selection of finds and some high quality replicas of silver items from the Watlington Hoard.
This is the second of three talks in the Industry and Archaeology Talks Series. The other talks take place on 11th July and 12th September. You may book tickets for individual events or for all three talks in the series for a reduced price.
After the talk, tea/coffee and cake will be available (included in the price). Pre-booking is preferred, but you can pay on the door, if there are spaces available.
Image: The Portable Antiquities Scheme The Trustees of the British Museum, CC BY-SA 2.0
To book, scroll down.
Date
- Thu 08 Aug
Time
- 14:00 - 15:30
Tickets
- £5.00
Location
- 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ
Organiser
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The Centre - Berkshire FHS
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Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk -
Website
https://berksfhs.org/branches/
Speaker
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James MatherI have been a responsible metal detectorist for the last 30 years, am retired, and live in Reading. I have an honours degree and enjoyed my previous career as a Marketing Executive.
On this occasion my talk covers some background information on the hobby of metal detecting, shows a selection of my more interesting local finds, and majors on my discovery and the archaeological excavation of the Watlington Viking Hoard, which has been described authoritatively as one that has changed history. This hoard is now on permanent display in The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. In addition I bring along a selection of finds and some high quality replicas of silver items from the Watlington Hoard.
Over the years I have published numerous magazine articles, appeared on Radio Berkshire, and on National TV in Professor Alice Roberts “Digging For Britain” series. Recent high profile projects have involved providing detecting support along with the Maidenhead Search Society for Reading University whilst excavating the “Marlow Warlord” and Cookham’s lost early medieval monastery.